Shreyas Muthusamy, Tejas' brother, was hoping Tejas would win so he could come to the national bee next year. Shreyas finished second to Tejas, speller 264, in the local competition.
But Tejas, a sixth grader who was eliminated, plans to return.
"I feel less pressure than all the eighth graders here," he said. "I can still come back next year and the year after. Think of how good I'll be in eighth grade."